Move of the Day – Destress with Pilates!

TGIF, Fresh Fitness Tips readers! To prep you for an uber-relaxing weekend--forecast is calling for sun here in the Big Apple, hooray--we asked guest blogger Christine Binnendyk, author of Ageless Pilates (Effortless Movement) to give us one of her favorite soothing Pilates moves to help you relax after a long workweek. Take it away, Christine!

Ever
feel like your shoulders have permanently taken up residence in by your ears?If you’ve been in this position too
long, you’re probably also feeling an annoying pinching sensation where your
shoulders meet your neck.

These
are signs that it’s time for Dumbwaiter, a movement that trains your body to
draw your shoulder blades down your back and toward each other.Dumbwaiter also gives you a dancer’s
posture: an open chest with relaxed shoulders.

Begin this exercise either
sitting tall in a chair or sitting cross legged.